Microsoft forcing users to update to Windows Phone 7.5

Microsoft forcing users to update to Windows Phone 7.5
Windows Phone update being pushed through

Microsoft has moved to push all users onto the latest version of Windows Phone in order to 'focus its resources'.

Those phones running Windows Phone 7 (not the update, known as Mango or Windows Phone 7.5) will no longer be able to access, update or review apps until they finally bite the bullet and upgrade to the new version.

It seems a pretty reasonable request, seeing as Microsoft has made sure that any phone bought on WP7 can be updated – plus we've seen no word of the update ruining any phone at all.

The only downside is the fact the update will take rather a long time – if you've not performed it yet, best settle down with a cup of tea and a good book before you start.

Zune to be gone

In addition to the lockdown on older models, Microsoft has decided to jettison the ability to download apps through its desktop Zune software.

It's made the move, according to the official blog, because "as a general rule, [Microsoft likes] to focus our engineering efforts where they matter most", meaning it wants to pour more resources into its web-based Marketplace.

Users who consistently eschew downloading apps on their mobile will be pleased to know they can still push them from the web through this portal – and Microsoft is at pains to state you can still download music from the desktop app and update your phone there too.

Are you a Windows Phone user that's avoided the update so far? Are you just against change or is it something bigger than that? Let us know in the comments below.

Gareth Beavis
Formerly Global Editor in Chief

Gareth has been part of the consumer technology world in a career spanning three decades. He started life as a staff writer on the fledgling TechRadar, and has grown with the site (primarily as phones, tablets and wearables editor) until becoming Global Editor in Chief in 2018. Gareth has written over 4,000 articles for TechRadar, has contributed expert insight to a number of other publications, chaired panels on zeitgeist technologies, presented at the Gadget Show Live as well as representing the brand on TV and radio for multiple channels including Sky, BBC, ITV and Al-Jazeera. Passionate about fitness, he can bore anyone rigid about stress management, sleep tracking, heart rate variance as well as bemoaning something about the latest iPhone, Galaxy or OLED TV.